The latest on California politics and government

October 9, 2013

Ever wonder how California's public schools compare to those of other states?

EdSource, an Oakland-based think tank devoted to California schools, has published an online "motion chart" that compares California's schools to those of other states, not only currently but how yearly comparisons have changed since 1970 with inflation adjustments for economic data.

The interactive website allows users to choose the states for comparison on 16 measures, including such overall factors as population and income, and specific school-related factors such as spending and national test scores. It also includes charts that merge factors, such as correlations between state spending on schools and test scores.

The charts, developed by Jeff Camp of the Full Circle Fund, reveal, among other things that California's spending on schools has decreased over time, both in comparison to other states and relative to such factors as personal income. In 1970, the state was spending 4.4 percent of its personal income on schools. By 2012, that had slipped to 3.2 percent, one of the lowest levels in the nation.

The charts also reveal that California teachers are among the nation's highest paid, while the state's student-teacher ratio is among the highest and its academic test scores are among the lowest.

PHOTO: Sacramento area second graders prepare for the annual state school exams on April 26, 2007. The Sacramento Bee/Lezlie Sterling